Is Pakistan's prime minister really so powerful?

Posted By Blake Hounshell Monday, November 16, 2009 - 9:26 AM Share

The Pakistani newspaper Dawn is reporting that Forbes magazine has named Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Pakistani prime minister, the 38th most powerful man in the world. Forbes doesn't seem to have published its new list online yet, so I can't verify the story, but if it's true, it's a bizarre choice. I'm not even sure Gilani is the most 38th most powerful man in Pakistan, let alone the world.

Off the top of my head, here are a few Pakistanis who have more juice than Gilani:

  • Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Army chief of staff
  • Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the head of the ISI intelligence service
  • All the Army corps commanders
  • Various top ISI deputies
  • President Asif Ali Zardari
  • Arguably, Nawaz Sharif, the opposition leader, and his brother Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab province
  • Mian Muhammad Mansha Yaha, the richest man in Pakistan, among other powerful businessmen and landholders
  • Etc.
EXPLORE:SOUTH ASIA, MEDIA, PAKISTAN
 

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